Well, I'm prep'ing my boat for a new coat of bottom paint. The
existing paint is toast. I'm power washing off the old paint and its
coming off nicely. Actually its going pretty well.
I may be able to get it all clear in about 2-3 more bouts with the powerwasher...
Problem here is that I found a few gel coat problems. One area
was from an apparent ding or dent on the side that has cracked the
gel coat and caused some minor chipping. Its nothing severe to the structure
but needs to be repaired.
Also below on the hull is also some minor areas of gel coat damage...
Doesn't look like dents/dings. Just some areas that have taken some
beating over time. Maybe a few small cracks ...like small spider cracks
that has cause some chipping.
I'm cleaning those areas very well and getting them ready for repair.
Just what to repair them with?
I'd figure the boat shop close by could complete the bottom coating for
me but I should/will do the gel coat repairs... If the bottom paint job is
easy I'd do that too... I'm pretty good with the hands and noggin.
I could use a few sanity checks. Is bottom painting a relatively easy
job...Or a fiascal... What is a good gelcoat repair process? Materials?
Sanding and preping are normal stuff to me. I got the tools. Advice is
more than welcome.
Hi Cal,
I don't know much about repairing gel coat, but the bottom paint is easy enough. Just mask off where you want the top edge to come to and do a couple coats with a regular paint roller & brush, just like you'd use for house paint. Last year I gave my buddy a hand with doing the bottom paint on his 26' sailboat. Prep, sand, paint took us about 6 hours or so. Make sure you wear a mask when you sand that stuff,,,, ugh.
Bottom Paint & Gel Coat
